Dr. K Hariprasad, Group President, Apollo Hospitals Enterprises Ltd., was recently interviewed on different aspects of their services involving Bangladeshi patients. Here is the full text of the interview:
What is your thought about Apollo & Bangladesh?
Ans: We at Apollo Hospitals treasure our three decades old relationship with the People of Bangladesh. We have had continuous onsite, online and clinical engagements since the 1980s’.
Why do people travel to India from Bangladesh?
Ans: Well, at Apollo Hospitals, we handle roughly 35% percent of India’s total inbound medical value travellers. We have noticed that the proximity factor, preserved trust which leads to positive word of mouth, affordable cost and access to latest in clinical technology makes us the preferred choice of our patients from Bangladesh.
Any specific disease pattern that you have noticed with regard to your patients from Bangladesh?
Ans: Apollo being a super specialty provider, our patients from Bangladesh access us for preventive health checks to robotic surgeries to Proton Beam therapy. Cancer care, Cardiac Sciences, Orthopedics, Gastroenterology, Organ tx, Neuro& Spinal surgeries are the biggest segment followed by preventive health checks.
With Government of India easing travel for foreign patients, what is your advice?
Ans: Our hospitals have dedicated international patient services team which offers free online medical advice and visa assistance pre travel and takes care of patients from the moment they land in India. We comply with all guidelines set by Government of India and Government of Bangladesh; we are always ready to welcome our patients and to handhold them across all the touchpoints in our hospital. We appreciate the well thought out policy of Government of India and Government of Bangladesh in these unprecedented times. I request our patients to avoid touts and agents and access our hospitals directly and through authorised channels.
What are your current engagements in Bangladesh?
Ans: We have multiple engagements in Bangladesh, from establishing a new hospital to offering tele health services, we have strong corporate partnerships with entities like US Bangla Airlines, we have affiliations with NGO’s, Government and industry bodies.
How did Apollo help the foreign patients during lock down and pandemic period?
Ans: Well, it was a challenge to manage the pandemic on one side and non-communicable diseases on the other side. However, we were ready and we took the digital route to help our patients both in India and abroad, for e.g., we did over 10000 free tele consults for our international patient community, for Bangladesh, we have connected with doctors, hospitals and we have had the highest number of air ambulance transfers during that time.
When can we see another Apollo in Bangladesh?
Ans: Well, this is a priority for us too, you will soon hear the good news and we are at it.
